931 Putnam Avenue,

Brooklyn, NY 11221

The ceilings are high, the rooms are spacious. You can't really hear anyone above or below you, unless they're hanging out on the fire escape/backyard/hallway. What makes this property excellent though is the people along the block. The two churches on this stretch of Putnam Ave are very involved with the community and the neighbors are great about welcoming folks in, throwing festivals and block parties that are family friendly, and helping out when you're in a pickle. The location is great, close to Gates Ave and the J, but not too far from the C if you need it. And you're surrounded by some really good eats.

Don't bother with the "in building" laundry. If you're in 931, the laundry is actually next door in 933. And it's not worth the trip, as the machines are dirty and often broken. They will eat your money. Go to one of the laundromats at the corner instead.

Bring extra blankets. We moved in in October and the radiators were turned on not too long after that. The small bedroom next to the bathroom, the bathroom, and the front hallway radiators never turned on, even after the Super came out once and looked at them. We kept calling as it got colder, and the response was to drop off an electric heater and never respond to us again.

Oh, and when you finally thaw from the lack of heat in the summer? There's a colony of yellow jackets that built their nest in the window sill of the back bedroom. They dug their way in from the outside and swarmed in the bedroom. This, by the way, was not considered a priority by the Super, despite documented allergies in the property. And...you know...the wasps swarming in the bedroom. I swear I'll be unpacking dead wasp bodies in the new place. The super sent "his guy" for multiple trips instead of hiring a professional service who would've done it right the first time.

And finally, when you do move out--good luck leaving. We sent notice the way they requested, went about our business, realized they never said anything to us about 45 days out and started hammering every line of communication we had to reach them trying to make sure we could--you know--hand over the keys and not continue to be charged by them for anything. It took a few weeks to get them to respond, and then we were told that "maybe" the super would show up for the times we needed to be out by. He insisted that we didn't need to do things the utility companies said we had to do, missed several appointments we set up with him and said utility companies, and cost us lots of money! So.

The rooms aren't that spacious in retrospect.

Also someone nearby has a tablesaw outside and thinks that 3am is the perfect time for carpentry projects. Whomst?

Communication with your residents would be, you know, the bare minimum here. And nice.